On Wednesday we noted a report that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is urging rich Muslims to buy more media influence in the West, by investing in media corporations. Tim Blair points out this related article at ArabNews, in which an anonymous Western journalist who was present at the meeting says it’s a great idea, but keep it hush-hush: ‘Muslims Need to Be Media Savvy’.

A Western journalist based in Riyadh and who has been covering the region for international news agencies for 10 years said the idea of buying stakes in Western media outlets was valid, “but then it shouldn’t have been announced publicly. It will only alarm the other side and create unnecessary friction. It should have been done rather discreetly.”

He felt the Western media outlets would be on guard against any hostile takeover bids originating from this idea of creating a Muslim voice in the mainstream Western media.